Chapter 451: Traces (2)

Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

Fairy’s Beauty mainly sold jewelry and cosmetics. The products mainly catered to pure and lively looks, and they were deeply loved by the young ladies of rich families who had yet to get married. All the current customers inside were young ladies.

At this moment, in the store, the three girls were standing outside the counter with a tray in front of them. Inside were a few open rouge boxes. The lady boss might recognize Xiuhe and personally received her at the counter. “Miss, you’re a rare guest. You haven’t been here for half a month…”

“I’m busy at home. I had no choice. I was about to go to the Four Sides Restaurant for a meal, but I didn’t expect it to be reserved… I heard that the Prince of Yan’s heir is also at the Four Sides Restaurant?”

“That’s right. He even brought a top courtesan from the Dragon Roar Tower with him. He even bought a few pieces of jewelry here just now. He’s really generous.”

“Is that so?”

After the two of them exchanged a few words, the lady boss noticed that Zhe Yunli was looking at lipstick and asked, “How old are you this year, Miss?”

“Sixteen.”

“Oh- You’re just the right age. Look at this one. The color is rich but not intense. It’s gorgeous but not gaudy…”

“Huh- Isn’t this a little too eye-catching? Sister Xiuhe, what do you think?”

“I think it’s quite appropriate.”

“Miss, you can try it first. My store has been open for twenty years. It’s expensive, but I’ve never earned black-hearted money. If the lipstick doesn’t look good, I won’t take your money…”

Luo Ning’s makeup had always been light, and she was very strict with the young Zhe Yunli. Zhe Yunli definitely wouldn’t have dared to buy this kind of slightly seductive red lipstick in the past.

But now that she was 16 years old, Zhe Yunli really liked it. Under the recommendation and persuasion, she took out the red lipstick paper from the box and applied it on her lips in front of the bronze mirror.

As her lips parted, the originally very light lips became visibly more charming and alluring, so much so that her entire face became brighter.

“Huh?”

“Miss, you’re so pretty.”

“This color really matches. Boss, you have a good eye…”

Zhe Yunli was obviously not used to it. Her face turned a little red. She bit her lower lip and looked at the mirror carefully, but she vaguely noticed something strange. In the mirror, she saw a familiar figure wearing a bamboo hat standing outside the side window. He seemed to be smiling at her in the mirror.

Brother Jingtang? Zhe Yunli was stunned. She looked back and saw that the window in the distance was empty. There was no one there.

Zhe Yunli didn’t think that she would hallucinate about a man. After exchanging a few words with the other two, she took the opportunity while Xiuhe was picking out makeup to walk quietly out of the door and into the side passage.

The passage was empty. After glancing around, Zhe Yunli walked along the passage to the back alley and looked left and right. She thought that Ye Jingtang was playing hide-and-seek with her, so she wanted to shout.

But just as she opened her mouth, she noticed a familiar black shadow emerging from the eaves. In the blink of an eye, he landed in front of her, covered her mouth, and dragged her into the dark alley.

?!

There was a hand holding Zhe Yunli’s and another covering her mouth. Her eyes immediately widened a little, but she didn’t struggle. Instead, she held her breath and condensed her qi. She didn’t make any more noise and leaned against the man’s chest to listen.

Clack, clack..

The sound of horse hooves approached from afar in the back alley, trotting toward the Four Sides Restaurant. When they were about to arrive, they slowed down.

Zhe Yunli blinked and understood that Ye Jingtang was probably investigating something. She raised her eyes slightly, wanting to see his reaction. Was he going to make a move or stay put?

When Ye Jingtang saw the horse coming over, he covered Yunli’s mouth and frowned while listening carefully. He found that the horseman had arrived at the back of the Four Sides Restaurant, and a servant in the restaurant came out to welcome him.

“Please come in, Elder Fang.”

“Has Young Master Li’s birthday banquet started?”

“It started not long ago…”

The person who spoke was Fang Shijie. The conversation was very normal, and he didn’t notice any movements around the corner. Ye Jingtang silently heaved a sigh of relief and lowered his head to signal Yunli to be quiet.

Zhe Yunli had been cooped up in the capital for a few months and was about to die of boredom. When she encountered such a scene where the enemy was in the open and she was in the dark, her eyes could be said to be burning. She waited until the footsteps gradually faded away from the back alley before she blinked. Then, together with Ye Jingtang, she peeked out from the corner of the wall.

There was no one in the back alley. Behind the wall, only the waiters of the restaurant were feeding the horses in the stable.

Ye Jingtang found that Fang Shijie had left the Prince of Yan’s heir’s side at night, and his whereabouts were unknown. Naturally, he was suspicious. He was about to ask Yunli to go back so he could go eavesdrop when he heard her whisper in his arms.

“It seems to be Fang Shijie.”

“Huh?” Ye Jingtang was stunned. He looked down at Yunli. “How do you know?”

Zhe Yunli’s eyes were full of pride. “I’ve been strolling in the capital for half a year. Do you think I’m just wandering outside every day? I even know how many people the Black Office has and when they change shifts every day, let alone such a public figure. Fang Shijie is the bodyguard of the Prince of Yan’s heir. Since the heir is here, who else can this old man be except Fang Shijie?

“I saw him once on the road when I came to Parasol Street. I heard that this person used to be a wanderer in Yan Province. His nickname is Half-Finger Breeze. He’s good at swordsmanship and boxing, and his martial arts skills are extremely high. Moreover, he’s sixty years old, but his treasured sword hasn’t aged. He even has a mistress in Hexagon Alley in the south of the city. He goes there every few days for an hour. When he leaves, he even rubs his waist…”

??